ST PATRICK'S CATHEDRAL

Dear Friends in Christ,

Today we celebrate the great solemnity of Easter - a time when “God our Father by raising Christ...has conquered the power of death and opened for us the way to eternal life” (Opening Prayer for Easter Sunday morning Mass). Knowing and living by this fact we can indeed proclaim the words of the Responsorial Psalm for today: ‘This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad’. 

The basis for our rejoicing and gladness is indeed the fact that through the Resurrection, the power of sin and death over us has been overcome.  This does not mean that there will be no more occurrence of suffering, sin, pain or death in our life.  It means that death and sin do not have the final say in our lives anymore.  It means that we can, through the power of the Risen Christ, overcome the weaknesses, disillusionments and disappointments of life. 

The celebration of Easter challenges us to live out in our lives the power of the Paschal Mystery – the suffering, death and Resurrection of Christ.  It urges us to recognise that we have to live out the pattern of Jesus suffering and death in order for us to live and be affected by the power of His Resurrection.  The letter to the Philippians takes up this theme as it states: … ‘that I may come to know him and the power of his resurrection, and partake of his sufferings by being moulded to the pattern of his death…’ [3:10]. 

The Scriptures given to us at this time [Matthew 28:1-10 at the Easter Vigil; John 20:1-9 and Luke 24:13-35 Day Mass and Evening Mass, respectively] all challenge the disciples to put away their fear and anxiety and to believe and trust in the Risen Lord.  As the women come from their encounter with the angel of the Lord at the empty tomb, they meet Jesus who simply says to them: ‘Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers that they must leave for Galilee; they will see me there’[Matthew 28:10].  Faced with the sight of the empty tomb Mary Magdalen runs to the disciples to tell them. On their arrival, Simon Peter and the Beloved Disciple go into the tomb.  John tells us that ‘the other disciple who had reached the tomb first also went in, he saw, and he believed’ [John 20:9].      

The most powerful Gospel story for me on this Easter Day is the one given to us for the evening Mass: Luke 24:13-35. I invite you to read and meditate on it. It is the Gospel that depicts the disciples leaving Jerusalem and heading back to Emmaus full of disillusionment and despair as they believe that their hopes and dreams have been erased with the death of Jesus.  So great is their despair that they fail to recognise him as he appears to them on the road.  It is only at the breaking of the bread that they recognise who he is.  On the way they find that their hearts are burning within them as they hear Jesus expound the Scriptures.  This is what Easter faith is all about – our not being overcome by despair but seeing in Jesus the reason for our hope and life. Without the hope of, and in, Christ’s Resurrection, then this experience can usually end with death.  The Easter story challenges us to see that this pattern of suffering, death and new life can be experienced in all aspects of our life.  With our faith and hope in the power of Jesus’ Resurrection we can overcome all aspects of sin, disillusionment and even death.  As we begin to live this period of uncertainty amid the presence of the Coronavirus, we too can, like the disciples walk through life without recognising Jesus in our midst.  Just as these first disciples recognised Jesus at the breaking of Bread and were aware that their hearts burnt within them as this Stranger opened the Scriptures for them, so too we can find solace in the Word of God and in the Sacraments, especially Reconciliation and Eucharist.

This is indeed the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in him.  May the renewal and spiritual advances made during our Lenten journey deepen and strengthen our faith in this reality.  May the Risen Christ and the power of his Resurrection be with you today and always.

Fr Robert Bossini
Dean & Parish Priest  

Daily Mass Readings can be accessed by clicking here

Fr Bob has compiled reflections for Easter Octave (13-18 April) and these can be found daily on the Cathedral App.

The Cathedral App is best downloaded by calling the Cathedral Office for assistance or by visiting the Cathedral website www.stpatscathedral.com.au

As the Cathedral is currently 'closed', the Diocese of Parramatta have taken this opportunity to install live streaming equipment in the Cathedral.  Most Masses from now until we resume as normal will be live streamed so that you can tune in at your usual preferred time. The live stream Masses will then be moved to the Cathedral YouTube channel.

To access the Facebook page click here 

To be connected to the Youtube channel click here

Live stream Mass times are:

• Sunday of the Resurrection

    Tune into one of these Masses.

          8.00am  Fr Chris del Rosario
          9.30am Fr Bob Bossini
         11.00am Fr Chris del Rosario
           6.00pm Fr Bob Bossini

• Monday 13 April - Public Holiday - 8am Mass only.

These Masses will be live streamed to the Cathedral Facebook page click here and live streamed on the Diocese of Parramatta's Facebook page.  Click here to be taken directly to the page. 

• Seeking Submissions for St Pat’s Matters.

  St Pat’s Matters gets the Green Light.

  Despite the disruption Coronavirus has caused to our parish’s communal worship at the Cathedral, Fr Bob has given the OK for St Pat’s Matters to go ahead. Whether it will be in print form, or posted online - one way or another it will forge ahead. 

  So when the issue comes out sometime after Easter there will be much content/reports already submitted pertaining to happenings pre-coronavirus. 

  BUT we encourage parishioners to submit their comments / stories about the Coronavirus Crisis:

  • its impact on your lives physically, emotionally, spiritually;
  • how has your faith been tested/strengthened;
  •  comments on celebration of Holy Week/Easter in “lockdown”;
  • what “Good Sam” acts you have witnessed or experienced personally;  and
  • what positives have emerged from the crisis.

Remember: Sharing Matters.  Email to balmap5@bigpond.com or leave it at the parish office marked “for St Pat’s Matters”.

• Jesuit Refugee Service

Many, many thanks to those who kept delivering food items to the  parish house.  Nearly all the items have been delivered to JRS and they were overwhelmed with the response.  Thank you again for your generosity.  God bless you.

• Planned Giving.

We have had a number of enquiries on how parishioners can continue their planned giving.  We must stress it is not necessary to feel obligated to keep up your weekly offering.  But...if you wish to still contribute please contact the parish office.  Alternatives include keeping envelopes till we 'open' again; move to credit card or direct debit.
Many thanks to those who have made alternative arrangements.

• St Patrick's Outreach Programme

The parish team have been busily engaging with our more senior members to check on their welfare.  If you are in need of assistance i.e. need grocery items or medication etc. please don't hesitate to call the parish office (8839 8400).  This new 'outreach programme'  is being received with much appreciation.  We rely on parishioners supplying us with their contact details, so, if you think your details may need updating, please contact the parish office.  If you know someone who may not fall into this category but may need assistance, please ask them to contact the office.